Transcript for Hustle & Heat Episode 14
What’s up guys, and welcome back to another episode of the Hustle & Heat Podcast. My name is George, your host, where we bring the community together one public official, one entrepreneur, and one restaurateur at a time.
Today is Episode 14, and we have a very special guest joining us. She’s a former North Port Commissioner, she’s receiving the Key to the City next week, and she’s deeply involved in the community. Everyone loves her and everyone knows her.
Without further ado, I’d like to welcome Miss Jill Luke.
Thank you for coming on the podcast.
Thank you so much, George. I appreciate the invite, and that was very humbling to hear.
It’s the truth. I could have kept going.
Well, I love North Port and I love the people here. I’ve always said that the greatest asset this city has is its people. I’ve been blessed to meet so many of them and work with so many over the years. It’s been a wonderful experience and a wonderful life.
Were you born and raised here?
No, I was born and raised in Michigan.
When did you move here?
What brought you here?
Work, believe it or not.
I was living in the Osprey area and was hired to operate a new business called Patriot Storage. At that time, they were the two largest buildings in the city — three stories tall. The police and fire departments even used them to train their dogs to scale the walls because they were the tallest buildings around.
My job was to get the business off the ground.
Everyone in the city knows you now, and you’re receiving the Key to the City next week.
I remember when I first opened the restaurant five years ago. People kept mentioning your name. I always heard “Jill Luke.” I didn’t remember exactly when we first met, but I always knew that name.
And I am so proud of you.
Thank you.
It makes me want to tear up seeing what you’ve accomplished. Looking around this restaurant and seeing what you built is incredible.
You’ll also be catering the Meals on Wheels event for us in April.
Yes, we’re doing a Meals on Wheels fundraiser here at Dubz Barbecue.
That’s right. Both events are in April, right? One of them is April 9th — the celebrity bartending event.
We’re planning to have celebrity bartenders, pack the house, and donate 10% of the proceeds to Meals on Wheels. Hopefully we’ll have a line out the door.
Well, that’s because of you.
And it’s because of people like you who come to this city, build businesses, and give back to the community.
My philosophy when I opened my business was simple — I never said no.
Someone needed a donation? No problem.
That’s the same philosophy I had when I started Patriot Storage during the recession in 2009. Everybody was hurting, but I didn’t say no. I wanted to collaborate. I wanted to help.
That’s who I am. I care about people, and I cared about the businesses around me too.
Your heart and my heart are very similar.
I think that mindset helped my business grow too. If someone needed help, I said yes — even if I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it work.
You were also bringing something to the city that North Port needed — a business like yours.
And you filled that niche perfectly.
I appreciate that. The way the city supported us through everything really meant a lot.
We opened during COVID. You started your business during the recession. It’s kind of funny how those things line up.
Yes, it is.
But if you stay true to who you are, you don’t have to worry about what you said before. Your actions will always stay consistent.
So tell us about you.
What makes Jill… Jill?
Why do you help the community so much?
It really comes down to one thing — I care.
When I arrived in 2009 during the recession, I saw so many people struggling. Families were losing homes, businesses were hurting, and people were trying to survive.
Working in storage units, I saw everything — businesses, families, and even homelessness. At that time there were 600 to 800 homeless children in our area.
That experience connected me to the community in a very deep way.
That’s actually where the Backpack Angels program began — at my storage facility.
I also hosted community markets and events so organizations and local businesses could share what they were doing. My facility was open to anyone who needed a space.
It takes many different businesses, organizations, and people to make a city work. I wanted to help bring those pieces together.
North Port is blessed to have you.
Since moving here in 2009, what has been your favorite memory as commissioner?
Serving as commissioner itself.
Before entering office, I had over 23 years of mid- and upper-level management experience in many industries — recreation, education, retail, national companies, and even self-employment.
That background helped me understand the different departments in the city and how everything worked together.
But the best part was helping shape the future of the city and being a voice for businesses and residents when they needed someone to stand up for them.
How long were you in office?
Five and a half years.
I initially filled a position for a year and a half, then I ran for election and served a full four-year term.
After that, I stepped away to care for my mother who had dementia and was legally blind. I cared for her for about two years before she passed.
Afterward, I returned to working with nonprofits.
At one point, I was serving on 15 different boards and committees.
Fifteen.
Yes — it became too much. I was drafting bylaws, procedures, manuals, policies, and governance structures for organizations.
So I stepped back.
Now I’m involved with about five or six.
One of the main ones is Meals on Wheels, where I serve as Chairman of the Board.
Meals on Wheels was founded in 1972 and was originally fully volunteer-run. Over the last year we’ve worked to build a professional structure.
Today we have an executive director, five part-time staff members, and over 200 volunteers.
Another organization I work with is Teen Court here in North Port.
It gives teenagers who make mistakes a second chance before something ends up permanently on their record.
Teen Court handles cases involving things like theft, vaping, fighting, and other youth mistakes.
Instead of adults judging them, teens serve as the attorneys, jury members, and court staff.
Many of those teens previously went through the program themselves.
They understand accountability.
And because of that program, many kids have gone on to become attorneys, professionals, and even receive college scholarships.
Teen Court is about accountability and second chances.
Teens might receive community service, jury duty, counseling, or attend programs like Camp X-Ray to understand the real consequences of crime.
The goal is to guide them in a better direction.
It also helps families. When a child changes direction, the entire family dynamic improves.
Receiving the Key to the City is incredibly humbling.
Yes, there is excitement, but mostly there is gratitude.
I couldn’t be who I am without the people in this city and the experiences I’ve had here.
So while I might be receiving the key, it really belongs to everyone in North Port.
Running for commissioner takes courage.
Campaigning can be very difficult because sometimes people will lie or spread rumors.
At one point during my campaign someone accused me of embezzlement, which was completely untrue.
But those challenges also forced me to confront something deeper from my past — the feeling of being a victim from earlier experiences in my life.
Eventually I realized I wasn’t a victim anymore.
I was a victor.
And I could push forward.
For anyone who has experienced trauma or abuse, my advice is simple:
Get counseling.
Counseling helped me understand myself and break free from the patterns that were holding me back.
I read countless books, learned about myself, and slowly untied the chains that were holding me in place.
Healing allowed me to become the person I am today.
People are often surprised to learn that I’m actually an introvert.
Being around people energizes me, but at heart I enjoy being at home, gardening, and spending time outdoors.
I love nature, plants, science, and learning about the universe.
But the energy of helping people and serving the community drives me.
If there’s one thing I want people to remember, it’s this:
Love.
We need more love in this world.
Love is the force that holds everything together, much like gravity.
And the opposite of love is not hate — it’s fear.
Fear creates hate.
If people weren’t afraid, they wouldn’t hate.
Fear is at the core of many negative things in the world.
People fear losing control, fear differences, fear other cultures, and fear the unknown.
Education, understanding, and diversity help break those fears.
When we learn from each other, we grow.
Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for this community.
You deserve this recognition and the Key to the City.
I hope it’s a great day for you.
Thank you.
It’s a great day for all of us, because this city belongs to everyone.
Thank you for joining us today on Hustle & Heat.
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and subscribe.
We’ll see you next time.
